Michael R. H. Swanson, Ph. D.
Office: GHH 215
Hours: M, W, F, 11:00 - 2:00 T: 2-30 - 4:00
Phone: 254-3230
The character you create will experience the period between 1876 and 1900 (and some before and some after) based on the characteristics you give him or her. Put together a character which is interesting, certainly. Don’t make him/her Rip Van Winkle, sleeping throughout the era. Also put together a character which is possible, and at least mainstream enough so you won’t have difficulties giving that person a chance to react to his/her times (Lizzie Borden would not make a good character for this project).
You’re going to have opportunities to modify these, and of course, people do change across time. Perhaps your character will migrate from one region to another or perhaps your person will marry into a different social class, become converted, get into trouble, who knows, at this stage. The important things is to begin the process of splitting your thinking into a 2010 “you” and an 1890s alter-ego “you”.
My classes get more internet-involved every year because the internet becomes a more interesting place every year. You’re going to be doing a lot of focused browsing as you work on your journal and other projects. I hope you enjoy that sort of thing.